The old capital of Guatemala retains its charms

Advantages: Gorgeous town with a lot of character, plenty to do, and great markets.
Disadvantages: No alcohol after 8 on a Sunday

...I travelled through Guatemala as a student backpacker, but there are lots of things to do for any age group/interest. For the bargain hunters I thoroughly recommend the colourful and vibrant markets, but make sure you haggle (the best price is often gained from comparing different sellers, and having a grasp of the language!). I bought a beautiful bedspread for only £15, planning to send it home in the post, but ended up carrying it around the rest of Central America due to the £70 needed on stamps!! Even for the non-religious traveller, it is well worth visiting the churches, such as La Merced, San Francisco, and Las Capuchinas, for the colonial architecture and to appreciate the local devotion to the Catholic Church. The recent canonisation of Hermano Pedro (the first saint from Central America) involved a visit from the Pope...

kb1532 02.07.2004 (11.07.2004) · Read review
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Review of Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala)

Is it possible to be charming and stunning?

Advantages: The people and rich culture
Disadvantages: You need at least 1-2 weeks for the experience and clubs are only open till 1am

...So I feel I should write a review of the the mighty they call Antigua of Guatemala, after living there for nearly 4 months I relised why it is considered to be one of the jewels of Central America. So lets be honest I could write volumes for this but I will try to avoid covering standard issues which you will find in travel guides. On first glance Antigua can seem like a beautiful but sleepy location as this is the impression I got on my initial visit passing through for just 1 day, but you see Antigua is the type of place you need a little more time to appreciate the fruits which it has to offer, and so my 1 day experience was not really a good indication of what Antigua has to offer the traveller/tourist/culture vultures! But on my more extended visit a few weeks later I saw that with a little time, research and 'getting to know...

sanj77 14.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala)

Antigua

Advantages: Beaches are georgous; plenty to do; friendly locals
Disadvantages: Avoid hurricane season, sand flies and mosquitos

...Apparently Antigua has a beach for every day of the year - somehow I onoly got round to using the two at our resort - Allegro Pineapple. Allegro is on the west side of the island and is within walking distance of Devils Bridge - a natural phenoninom but play safe and keep away from the edge of the water. The locals were polite and friendly and the beach hawkers took no for an answer if you were not interested in what they were selling. Antigua has a warm tropical climate and our main bugbear (pardon the pun) was with the sand flies and mosquitos - a good insect repellant will do well - the bottoms of the ankles seemed their favourite place to bite. There is plenty of things to do in Antigua and to spend your holiday sitting on the beach all day is a waste. Here are a few activities that you can get up to : Nelsons...

haze1smith 17.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of General: Antigua & Barbuda

Stingray City, Antigua - in hot water but no Marina and Troy

Advantages: A new experience, bragging rights, conversation stopper down the local
Disadvantages: I don't like seeing animals 'caged' really

...Stingray City ? quite a name, huh? Could it be an Arizona hot-spot for Corvette haters? Well perhaps, but it?s not. Could it be a town in Queensland, Australia, perhaps conveniently located between Porpoise Spit and Dolphin Promontory? Well again, yes it could, but it isn?t. Stingray City is the place just off the north coast of the Caribbean island of Antigua where you can swim with real, live stingrays. A 30-minute coach ride from the capital of St John, over to the north coast of the island, the Stingray City operation at Seaton?s Village sits right on a section of coast in-between two headlands. They have some outdoor space and picnic tables for you to sit at whilst you?re waiting and facilities for you to change into swimming gear if you want ? some people put on wet suits and so on, too ? the snorkeling is good. Once...

andyk910 15.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Antigua Stingray Swim

Livingston, Guatemala Central America

Advantages: Natural,peaceful,colorful etc.
Disadvantages: The town needs fire prevention equipments.

...For me Livingston is the place on hearth which is a true paradise. It is located on the Atlantic coastal area of Guatemala, Central America. The people, and the ambience in general give a peaceful feeling that enlightens the soul. While in many ways it is a primitive place. One can feel the human elements which say this is all I need to be happy. The natural environment stands still even when foreigners,or locals might want to impose the modern life of large cities, they are held back,not so much by laws, but by the nature of the place that in silence says "enjoy me the way I'm". Livngston is a place for romance, adventure and life in general. The Rio Dulce (Sweet River)a navigable fresh water river,which ends in Livingston, where it meets with the bay that connects it to part of the Atlantic Ocean,in my Opinion is the #8 wonder...

Consuelo 22.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of Livingston (Guatemala)

Antigua Paradise Island

Advantages: a truly awesome experience
Disadvantages: can I have some money for the diamond shops please

...?You will be bored in Antigua ? it?s only for beach lovers?, quoted a colleague. HOW WRONG THEY WERE! I was very fortunate this year to find myself preparing and looking forward to my second holiday this year headed for two weeks of bliss in Antigua, Caribbean, West Indies. As my regular readers will know, I?m a keen fan of travelling, this trip for me was the furthest I?ve travelled yet (watch this space!) - apart from a New York shopping trip in the eighties, that is. I took a direct scheduled flight from Gatwick which I found to be comfortable, good food, leg room not too bad compared to the usual short haul destinations, plus a wide selection of movies and radio channels to fiddle with during the 8 and a half hour flight. I did read a couple of negative reviews on my chosen accommodation prior to take off, the Jolly...

hogwash 28.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of General: Antigua & Barbuda

The best place to stay in Guatemala City!

Advantages: Charming and unique hotel with wonderful Gautemalan artifacts and ambiance (a home away from home) run by delightful people.
Disadvantages: None

...experience when I stayed there! Last, the Posada Belen is very reasonably priced (a fraction of what I would have paid if I stayed in a major chain hotel). When booking the Posada Belen, I mentioned in an email that I wanted to take a tour around Guatemala. Francesca and René responded that they could arrange a week's tour for me (the Guatemala Classic Tour), which was truly wonderful. It was a comprehensive tour of Lake Atitlan, Antigua and Tikal. The tour was very flexible and was arranged according to my schedule and my needs, and it was always with small groups of people. The hotels on the tour were all excellent. I am very grateful to Francesca and René since they arranged a truly marvelous tour for me. Additionally, they arranged airport transfers and for a taxi to take me to the 2 best museums in Guatemala City. I will...

Wowvoyager 18.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Posada Belen, Guatemala City

Sandals Antigua - Paradise Found

Advantages: Location, Food, Drink
Disadvantages: Price

...If you are looking for a caribbean holiday on a perfect beach in fine accomodation then look no further. I spent a week in Sandals Antigua for my honeymoon last year and was highly impressed. The hotels location could not be better, situated directly on one of the islands best beaches, with the restaurants overlooking the sea. Sandals is a fairly large, all-inclusive hotel. A variety of rooms are available, ranging from the simply luxurious, to the super luxurious suites. Our room fell somewhere between these two extremes and offered air-conditioning (essential), TV, and best of all a terrace which led directly to a small pool which few other guests seemed to know about. The sea was just beyond this pool giving us a great sea view, and the convenience of the pool. There are around 5 restaurants to choose between, all were excellent. All...

SteveP 24.06.2000 · Read review
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Review of General: Antigua & Barbuda

St James club Antigua

Advantages: escapism & peace & tranquility
Disadvantages: Very Quiet not suited for kids

...My childhood dream was to get married on the sunny Caribbean Island of Antigua & boy did it come true.. On arrival at the airport we were all greated by the rather humid temperature..boy was it hot! After a rather slow checkin we were led to queue up outside for our taxi to the hotel which was approx 30 mins from the airport, and was it a ride to remember... We were all sandwiched in to what was described as an Antiguans answer to a Sooty mobile.There were 12 of us altogether all squashed up like sardines complete with luggage & pushchair, the lady driver would of made Schumaker look slow, we were tossed, turned & literally bounced up & down in our seats! We were driven through the roads at great speed finding it very hard to take in the scenery, the houses lived in are like tin shacks & at times we wondered whether or not we had...

pagandawn 02.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of General: Antigua & Barbuda

Tikal your fancy

Advantages: Breathtaking ruins in vivid jungle packed full of rainbow coloured birds and lively animals.
Disadvantages: Violent crime awaits the unwary.

...the region. San Cristobal, Palanque, Chetumal, Antigua, Guatemala City, Panajacel and Belize City are all places where this would be possible. Single ticket airtrips can be as low as $80. Organising a shuttle bus to Flores from one of these places is also an option. Flores is a beautiful town on an island in a great cool lake, about 50 miles south west of Tikal, and a great base from which to see Tikal. Expect to pay somewhere between $20-$40 depending where you are coming from. From Belize City or Antigua it should be about $25. From Flores early minibuses (arrange them at your hotel or at one of the many obvious travel agents and tour organisers) will shuttle you to the ruins before dawn for as little as $6 depending on your bargaining skills and the current demand. Several buses leave daily and you can choose just how early you want...

Hmatt 03.09.2002 (14.10.2002) · Read review
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Review of Tikal (Guatemala)